Question

Why were the prevalent religious beliefs and practices opposed by the saints?

Answer 1

Various religious beliefs and rituals led to the intensification of the caste system; they propagated the idea that people were not born equal. They also emphasised the privileges of noble birth, high caste and cycles of birth and rebirth. The saints were against religions in which people were not treated equally and had to perform meaningless rituals to get closer to God. The saints advocated the idea of devotion, which treated everyone as equal and also believed in the existence of one God.